Naturally Engaging

Sharing the natural history of the Catskills forests since the end of the ice age.

A tour of Township Valley South from Mt. Utsayantha with Dr. Michael Kudish. Cinemetographer: Jake DeNicola

ABOUT DR. MICHAEL KUDISH

Michael Kudish received his Ph.D. at the New York State College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse. In 2000, Purple Mountain Press published The Catskill Forest: A History. As a professor emeritus in the Division of Forestry at Paul Smith's College, he has also written four books on the vegetation of the Adirondacks, including Adirondack Upland Flora and a number of articles on forest history of both the Catskills and Adirondacks. As a railroad historian, he has written volumes on the subject of railroads in the Adirondacks and the Catskills.

The following is an excerpt from “The Catskill Forest: A History” Purple Mountain Press, 2000:

“ …{h}e began a life-long study of the history of these forests, beginning with Vegetation History of the Catskill High Peaks, his dissertation at the New York State College of Environmental Science and Forestry at Syracuse University in 1971. In the intervening 39 years, his study has expanded to include an examination of Catskills soils, climate, ecological personalities of tree species, human disturbance and history, and the history recorded in the rings of living and just-fallen trees. Such examination could push the clock back only 300 to 400 years, the maximum age of the oldest living trees and of the writings of European settlers. In 1994, he realized that tree fossils preserved at high-elevation peat bogs also could be used to reconstruct forest history and that the age of the peat could be determined by radiocarbon dating. Forest history has now been pushed back to 14,000 years”

ABOUT THE PRESERVEThe Michael Kudish Natural History Preserve (“Preserve”) is organized to conduct and distribute research,studies and analysis related to the natural history of the Catskill Mountains “America’s First Wilderness.”

The preserve encourages and informs public debate on solutions andsafe alternatives to environmental threats.

As stewards of 101 acres of permanently protected land, the preserve supports abiologically rich and diverse population of flora and fauna, in perpetuity.

In furtherance of these activities, the preserve offers primitive temporary shelterto scientists, historians, artists, and the general public.

In an attempt to realign a human worldview with the natural world,the preserve uses a combination of visual and performing arts to engage action byindividuals and organizations.